Arson Unit investigates 4th suspicious fire in a week

The Ottawa Police Arson Unit says it has no evidence to suggest four suspicious fires sparked in the last week are linked.

Police have not yet determined whether the latest blaze -- on Arkell Street in Britannia is in fact arson, but say the three others - on Lloydalex Crescent, Forest Street and Parkdale Avenue were deliberately set.

Sgt. David Christie with the Arson Unit told CFRA the fact that Forest and Arkell are within walking distance of each other hasn't escaped them.

"I'm certainly aware of that and cognizant of that fact, so it will be considered if we determine this is an arson here," he said. "We'd certainly look to see if there's sort of a random nature to it that both places were set on fire, but at the moment, I don't have the information to conclude that."

Christie said they've been unusually busy in the last couple of weeks, but that's likely just a coincidence.